Bush Whacker

“Back Up! Get back here!” A shout could be heard to all in the reception at Ponyville General before a small light brown dog bolted through the entrance doors and into the Patient Recovery wing in what could best be described as a blur. A few seconds later a panting red pegasus with a white-gold mane came bursting through the doors to the baffled looks of the waiting ponies.

“...My bad.” Bush Whacker troted up to the white mare at the counter who was still suppressing a bit of a giggle. “Hey Redheart, just here to sign in… and apologize for Back Up tearing through.”

Nurse Redheart slid a clipboard and pen over the counter after composing herself. “You said ‘visit’ again didn’t you?” She asked flatly.

“I… yeah. I thought I could keep up better.”

“Room three, you know the way.”

“Thank you. Now if you’ll excuse me.” Bush Whacker calmy walked around the corner before another shout could be heard in the lobby. “Next time you’re going on a leash!”

As he entered the room Bush Whacker was greeted with the sight of a familiar orange earth pony filly with a hind leg in an elevated cast, a pink unicorn mare, and Back Up with his front legs on the bed and his tail making audible thumping sounds against the frame.

“Hello Tiger Lily, hope you’re feeling better today. Sorry for not knocking Ms. Blossom, but I think my presence was already known.” The pegasus immediately shot a glare at the dog next to him, one that seemed to go ignored.

The mare smiled warmly at him. “Bush Whacker, after what you did for my daughter, please, call me Tulip. I truly can’t thank you enough for your help. Is there anything I can do in return? Something I can help with?”

“Not for me, thank you though. Just please don’t be too hard on her when she’s out of here alright? Lily was just scared is all.”

“I was not!” The young filly spoke up, finally having her attention taken away from the needy dog at her side.

“That’s not what you told me.” Bush Whacker sat down so he was at eye level with the foal. “Did you lie to me?”

“No! Just… you didn’t have to say it infront of my mom…” Tiger Lily’s face immediately shifted to an expression somewhere between being caught red-hoofed and pouting.

“I’m sorry for telling your secret, but she is your mom, she has a right to know. But if it will help make it up to you I have a small present for you.”

A massive smile crossed the filly’s face making a sound almost akin to a squee.

“I know it may not be the best gift ever but I know hospital food can get a bit old and bland quick, so…” He opened one of the pouches on Back Up’s sack and pulled out a small bag, setting it on the tray next to Tiger Lily. “I brought you some homemade trail mix, it’s all the stuff I find in the Everfree. I’m not sure how much you’ll like it but it’s gotta be better than hospital food right?”

The little filly’s face was still glowing with that smile. “Thank you Mr. Bush Whacker. I got a present for you too.” Tiger lily looked towards her mother who handed her a sheet of paper from a nearby table.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“But I wanted to.” She handed Bush Whacker a crudely drawn crayon picture of a red pegasus with a white-gold mane kneeling down next to a small orange pony in a forest. “It’s a picture of you, to remember me.”

Bush Whacker had to fight back some tears at the sight of the picture. “Thank you Tiger Lily, if I had a fridge I would hang it right there. Tell you what, I’ll hang it inside my tent so that when it rains it won’t get wet. I’ll look at it everyday.” He carefully rolled it up and placed it in one of his own bags. “So, what did the doctors say about your leg?”

“They said it’ll be fine, but I’ll have to stay here for a while so I can’t go outside with my friends.” Her face seemed to droop a little as she said this.

“Well I guess I’ll have to come visit you more than. I’m going to go wait in the other room, I think somebody may have intruded on your mother's time.” Bush Whacker shot another glance at Back Up and while it was noticed this time, the dog did not seem to care in the least. “I’ll come back as soon as she’s gone, ok? I’m gonna let you two continue chatting.”

Bush Whacker turned to leave and was about halfway to the door before he heard a tiny voice behind him.

“Mr. Bush Whacker, would you be my daddy? You could hang the picture on our fridge.”

While Tulip Blossom wasn’t so lucky, Bush Whacker had never been more thankful that his coat hides his blush so well.